Kalanchoe plant  named ‘Fikaldendi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Fikaldendi’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching plant habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, early and freely flowering habit; bright orange red-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIKALDENDI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant,botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Fikaldendi’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-floweringKalanchoe plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in De Lier, The Netherlands in 2011 of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana‘Fikalrodan’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,431, as the female, orseed, parent with Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Fuego’, disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 16,456, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoeplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single floweringplant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in December, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fikaldendi’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Fikaldendi’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoeplant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching plant habit.    -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Uniform, early and freely flowering habit.    -   6. Bright orange red-colored flowers.    -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Fikalrodan’. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of‘Fikalrodan’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more vigorous than plants of        ‘Fikalrodan’.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower about one week earlier        than plants of ‘Fikalrodan’.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger flowers than plants        of ‘Fikalrodan’.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Fikalrodan’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Fikalrodan’ have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the maleparent, ‘Fuego’. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of‘Fuego’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact than plants of        ‘Fuego’.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower about three to four days        later than plants of ‘Fuego’.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger flowers than plants        of ‘Fuego’.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Fuego’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Fuego’ have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoeblossfeldiana ‘Paso’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,337. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of ‘Paso’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more compact than plants of        ‘Paso’.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flowered about three to four days        later than plants of ‘Paso’.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger flowers than plants of        ‘Paso’.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Paso’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘Paso’ had deep red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Kalanchoe plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘Fikaldendi’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer and autumn in 10-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands andunder cultural practices typical of commercial Kalanchoe production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C.to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 21° C. and lightlevels ranged from 10,000 lux to 55,000 lux. Plants received longday/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about fourweeks then plants received photoinductive short day/long nightconditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants weretwelve weeks old when the photograph was taken and eleven weeks old whenthe description was taken. In the detailed description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Fikaldendi’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana            ‘Fikalrodan’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,431.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Fuego’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,456.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically greyish white in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and uniformly            mounded plant habit; freely flowering habit with numerous            cymes positioned above the foliar plane; triangular in shape            with rounded crown; appropriate for 5 to 12.5-cm containers;            moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height at flowering.—About 16 cm.        -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 16 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about six to            eight lateral branches developing per plant; pinching            (removal of the terminal apex) is not required but will            enhance lateral branch development.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 10 cm to 13 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm to 6 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 2 cm.        -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to N137A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.        -   Quantity per plant.—Typically about seven to ten mature            leaves and about 13 to 20 generative leaves.        -   Length.—About 8.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 6 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Vaulted.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; coriaceous; succulent; glossy:        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:            Close to 139A; venation, close to N137A. Developing and            fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to N137C;            venation, close to N137C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to            8 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            coriaceous; succulent. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to N137C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single flowers arranged singly            in axillary cymes; uniform and freely flowering habit with            usually more than 25 open flowers and more than 25 flower            buds per lateral branch and more than 150 open flowers and            flower buds developing per plant; plants flower continuously            for at least seven weeks.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe            initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night            conditions or during November and December in the Northern            Hemisphere; flower initiation and development can also be            induced under artificial short day/long night conditions (at            least 14 hours of darkness).        -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, under short day/long            night photoinductive conditions, plants begin flowering            about nine to ten weeks; actual time to flower is primarily            dependent upon temperature and light intensity.        -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production            longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance            for about 49 days under interior conditions; individual            flowers last about 19 days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.7 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 1.3 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid with            development. Color, before flower opening: Close to 43C.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Four in a single whorl. Length: About            7 mm. Width: About 6.5 mm. Aspect: Upright to somewhat flat.            Shape: Round. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; shiny. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 42A; color becoming closer to 42B with            development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 43C and 43D.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four in a single whorl. Length: About            8 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Oblong, pointed. Apex:            Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright, rigid.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth;            glabrous; shiny. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            138B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm.            Aspect: Erect, rigid. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 138B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight            per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther length:            About 0.3 mm. Anther color: Close to 150D. Amount of pollen:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Gynoecium: Pistil            number: About four. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Style length:            About 7 mm. Style color: Close to 138D. Stigma shape: Flat.            Stigma color: Close to 8D. Ovary color: Close to 138D.        -   Seeds.—Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm. Color:            Close to 166C.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not    been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to    Kalanchoe plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Fikaldendi’as illustrated and described.